Obituary for Sophie Marie Ekker
SOPHIE MARIE EKKER
June 8, 1915 - December 10, 2014
Middletown, NY
Sophie Marie Ekker, a local business owner and longtime area resident died on Wednesday December 10, 2014 at home with her family at her side.
The oldest daughter of Thomas and Diana Licari Rao's ten children, she was born on June 8, 1915 in New York City. Sophie married Ingart Ekker on February 8, 1953 in NYC. He predeceased her in August of 1994.
Together they operated Ekker Vac & Sew in Middletown, NY and Ekker Vac & Sew of LaCrosse, WI for many years.
Sophie was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and was a tenor in the choir. She was an active and devoted church goer. She enjoyed music, dancing, and belonged to Mulberry House Seniors where she participated in exercise, line dancing and traveling. She split her living arrangements between her two children so she could spend time with her grandchildren, whom she loved being around and when settling them down to bedtime saying, "Pleasant dreams, or no dreams at all".
She enjoyed sewing since she was a child making her own clothes for her and her family. She even taught sewing to 4H kids in Liberty NY, and the Hmongs in LaCrosse WI.
Sophie is survived by her daughter, Geraldine; son, Robert and his wife, Jodi; a brother, Joseph in Highland NY, and four loving grandchildren: Austin, Diana, Rachel, and Aaron.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home in Middletown on Monday, December 29th. A wake service will be held at 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30th at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Entombment will be in Catholic Cemetery in LaCrosse, WI.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home in Middletown on Monday, December 29th. A wake service will be held at 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30th at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Entombment will be in Catholic Cemetery in LaCrosse, WI.
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